United States to require public social media profiles for certain visa applicants

Starting October 1, 2026, the United States Department of State will implement new requirements for certain non-immigrant visa applicants, requiring them to make their social media profiles public during the review process.

The measure specifically targets applicants for I, TN, and TD visas. This includes foreign media representatives, such as journalists and press workers (I visa), eligible professionals from Mexico and Canada under the USMCA (TN visa), and their dependents (TD visa).

Consular officials will review public activity across various platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, YouTube, and LinkedIn, to evaluate eligibility and identify potential concerns regarding national or public security. Applicants may also be required to declare social media identifiers used over the previous five years. The policy applies to new applicants during the consular process and does not affect all immigrants, tourists, or current visa holders.